Is Exercise a Waste of Time or a Productivity Enhancer?
To determine if a daily exercise bout is truly a waste of time, let’s delve into the nitty-gritty research on whether or not exercise makes you productive.
Ben Greenfield
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Is Exercise a Waste of Time or a Productivity Enhancer?
Let’s face it. When you have a pressing task to finish at work, a task that has a hard deadline, it can feel like a complete waste of time to check out for 30, 45, or 60 minutes to go get in a weight training session or a bike ride or a run. Why not just stay at work, put your nose to the grindstone, and get your task done? It really does seem at first glance that exercise is simply a waste of time or an excuse to procrastinate, right?
When it comes to work, getting chores done around the house, writing an article, learning a musical instrument, or anything else, is it really worth it to take precious time out of the day to exercise? While you’re spending an hour at the gym or out walking in the neighborhood, couldn’t you instead be using that time to finish an important project or perhaps working ahead a bit to earn some vacation days?
Well, to determine if a daily exercise bout is truly a waste of time, let’s delve into the nitty-gritty research on whether or not exercise makes you productive, shall we?
Is Exercise Really a Waste Of Time?
Last week, I weighed in on this topic on my colleague Stever Robbins’ Get-It-Done Guy podcast. You can hear more about my feelings on exercise and productivity in this week’s episode (listen in the top right-hand player or on iTunes and Stitcher). Or read much more about how exercise improves your productivity in this week’s article, which covers:
- how exercise benefits your brain
- how exercise can improve your emotional state
- the importance of exercise for motivation and discipline
When we think of exercise, we often think of the physical aspects. Exercise, however, is much more than just physical training; it has enormous benefits for the brain, which can help improve our mental capacity and boost productivity.
One study found that regular exercise can significantly increase cognitive function. Research shows that people who engage in regular exercise have better focus and attention spans compared to those who do not. In essence, exercise can help us perform at our best mentally, which is crucial when it comes to completing important tasks and meeting deadlines.
In addition, exercise can have a powerful impact on our emotional state. It has been shown to reduce anxiety and stress levels, and can even help mitigate symptoms of depression. By improving our emotional health, we can boost our motivation and discipline. Feeling good mentally can lead to higher productivity levels, as we are more likely to tackle tasks and work towards achieving our goals.
Let’s not forget that exercise can also improve our overall well-being, which is key to sustaining productivity over time. Regular physical activity can lead to better sleep, increased energy levels, and improved health—all of which contribute to enhanced productivity.